Police take over Rivers Assembly quarters as crisis worsens

The face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, deepened on Friday as policemen took over all the entrances and exit to the House of Assembly quarters located along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

Both the first and second gates to the lawmakers’ estate were safeguarded by about 30 policemen, while about 25 patrol vans were used to block the other two entrances.

Our correspondent reports that one of the entrances is adjacent to the Mobile Police Force 19 Division, while the other is beside the Port Harcourt office of the National Identification Management Agency.

The police took over the place shortly after the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, accused Fubara of planning to demolish the legislative quarters.

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The governor had paid an unannounced visit to the facility on Thursday afternoon, explaining that he was there to access the place following the emergence of a new speaker.

“Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there?

“You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people,” the governor said.

Our correspondent reports that following the alarm raised by Amaewhule, the anti-Fubara lawmakers and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) kept vigil around the estate till Friday.

A Rivers court had earlier restrained the Pro-Wike lawmakers from parading themselves as legislators, saying their seats had been declared vacant.

Meanwhile, a group, the ‘Sim Media Volunteers at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, called on the Inspector-General of Police to monitor activities of policemen in the state and ensure they observe the rules of engagement.

The Convener, Frank Kilsi, who made the call decried the arrest and intimidation of the governor’s supporters by the police saying the development could lead to anarchy.

Kilsi stated, “We call on the Inspector-General of Police to rein in his men and exercise restraint by stopping the unnecessary attack or wanton arrest on any of the governor’s supporters, as further harassment could lead to anarchy and breakdown of law and order that may not do our state any good.

“We, the youths of the state, under the aegis of SIM Media Volunteers do hereby emphasize the need for peace, justice and development in Rivers State.

“We implore all relevant stakeholders such as the citizens, political leaders, traditional institutions and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the rights and freedom of the people are upheld and protected at all times.

“To this end, we would like to acknowledge and applaud the great youths of Rivers State for being peaceful and law-abiding even in the face of provocation”.

Kilsi commended the governor’s peaceful disposition and commitment to the security of lives and property in the state and asked him to continue on such a path of development.